India Beats Bangladesh … Just

India secured a nail biting one-run victory over Banglades at the ICC World Twenty20 on Wednesday in Bengaluru. After being sent in to bat Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan did well to put on 42 for the opening stand. Sharma was first to go when Mustafizur Rahman (2/34) had him caught by Sabbir Rahman for 18.

Three runs later Dhawan (23) was an LBW victim at the hands of Shakib Al Hasan. Virat Kohlia and Suresh Raina added 50 for the third wicket before Kohli was clean bowled by Shuvagata Hom for 24. Raina top scored with 30 (23 balls, one four, two sixes) before he was caught by Sabbir Rahman off the bowling of Al-Amin Hossein.

Hardik Pandya (15), MS Dhoni (13 not out) and Ravindra Jadeja (12) helped the host nation post 146/7 in their 20 overs. In response the Tigers were in trouble early on when Mohammad Muthi fell for 1 with the score on 11. Ravichandran Ashwin was the bowler, with Pandya taking the catch.

Tamim Iqbal and Sabbir Rahman would take the Bangladeshis to 55 before the opener was stumped by Dhoni off Jadeja for 35 (32 balls, five fours). Rahman was also stumped, but off Raina for 26 as the men in green found themselves 69/3 after 9.2 overs. Jadeja (2/22) bowled Mashrafe Mortaza for 6 but at 87/4, needing another 60, with 8.5 overs still to play the match was evenly poised.

Aswhin (2/20) then had Shakib Al Hasan (22) caught by Raina to make it 95/5 but Soumya Sarkar and Mahmudullah then put on 31 and it was 126/6 when the former was caught by Kohli off Ashish Nehra for 21. Mahmudullah and Mushfiqur Rahim took the Tigers to 145 and in a seemingly winning position needing two runs from three balls for victory and virtually eliminating the hosts from their own tournament.

However a team hat-trick took care of business for India as Rahim was caught by Dhawan off Pandya, before the bowler (2/29) had Mahmudullah caught by Jadeja. Mustafizur Rahman was run out off the last ball as the Indian burgled a victory to keep their tournament hopes alive ahead of their final group game against Australia.